Rains that fell across the KJAN listening area were certainly welcome, but they were not “drought busters.”  Even so, the risk of controlled burns becoming out of control has diminished for the time being. As a result, the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency has reduced the Fire Danger Index from “High” to “Moderate,” through this Thursday, August 30th. Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says people who had been holding off on conducting outdoor burns, may now do so, at least for the next few days. Seivert asks residents to continue to contact their Fire Chief and the Emergency Management Agency, with regard to the timing and location of any planned burns.

The man who authorities say robbed the Shelby County State Bank late last Thursday morning did not display a weapon during the robbery. Shelby County Sheriff Mark Hervey told KJAN News 48-year old Larry Tiarks did however, produce a note during the incident, which occurred at around 11:45-a.m., Thursday. The note contained specific information as to what he wanted the teller to do. Hervey says Tiarks was wearing sunglasses and a ball cap.

Hervey said Tiarks was a regular customer at the bank.  Even so, the teller on duty did not recognize him. A deputy who was on-duty and in the City of Shelby at the time of the robbery, observed a vehicle leaving the city, that matched the description of the suspect’s vehicle. Sheriff Hervey said they had no idea at the time, that Tiarks was the suspect.  The deputy engaged in a pursuit of the vehicle, which traveled east of Shelby to the 200-block of Juniper Road. The chase ended after Tiarks left his vehicle and entered a rural residence. Sheriff Hervey says the deputies who went to the front door of the residence retreated once Tiarks appeared before them.

He says they thought they saw a weapon in his hand when Tiarks appeared at the patio doors, but that was never confirmed. Sheriff’s officials along with those from surrounding counties and the Iowa State Patrol established a perimeter around the residence. At around 4-p.m., the Iowa State Patrol Tactical Entry Team, using specialized equipment from the FBI, made entry into the home. When the entered the home, they found Tiarks inside, dead from a “Self-inflicted wound.” For the sake of the family, Hervey would not elaborate on how Tiarks died.

Hervey says its still not clear what motivated Tiarks to rob the bank. He says they’re looking at several different avenues of explanation, but right now, they are “At a loss.”

As expected this time of year, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is receiving an increasing number of bat-related rabies calls. These calls usually peak in August and September. According to the Department of Natural Resources, these are the months when interactions between humans and bats typically increase because of bat migration and increased mobility and traveling of young bat pups. So far in 2012, 11 rabid bats have been reported to IDPH.  One case was reported in Mills County. There have been no human rabies cases. There have also been reported cases of skunks having rabies. The IDPH says one each was reported in Cass and Guthrie Counties.

Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals, usually through an animal bite. The most common carriers of rabies in Iowa are bats and skunks, although many different species of animals can be infected with rabies. IDPH Public Health Veterinarian, Dr. Ann Garvey says “Rabies in humans is 100 percent preventable through prompt, appropriate medical care.” According to Garvey, ” If you think you might have been exposed to rabies, you should clean the wound immediately and then contact your health care provider.”

Bat bites can be visibly undetectable and therefore, if you have any physical contact with a bat, you should wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and water. If possible, the bat should be captured and tested for rabies. If capture is not possible, you should seek medical attention. Additionally, if a bat is found in the same room as an unattended child, a sleeping person, or anyone who cannot reliably communicate what happened, this is considered a potential bat exposure, and medical attention should be sought.

There is a common misconception that you cannot legally kill bats in homes. This is not true. If you encounter a bat in your home, you may kill it in order to have it tested for rabies. This will help determine if you need to get the rabies shots.

For more information about rabies, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/DiseaseIndex.aspx?disease=Rabies.

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The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says a Red Oak man has died from injuries he suffered during a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon. Chief Deputy Sheriff John Reynolds says59-year old Robin L. Allen died at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The accident happened at around 12:50-p.m., Sunday, in the vicinity of 205^th Street and Hawk Lane.  When deputies arrives they found a 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle in the west ditch, and Allen was being treated for his injuries.

Witnesses stated that for reasons unknown, Allen’s motorcycle, which had been north bound on 205^th street, crossed the center of the road and exited the traveled portion of the roadway and flipped into the ditch. Allen was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital before being transferred to the UNMC, where he was pronounced dead. This matter remains under investigation.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Almost 100 Iowa school buses have been repeatedly labeled unsafe to transport children in the past five years. The Des Moines Register reports that gaps in the bus inspection system make it possible for busses to return to service without being fixed. Iowa rules don’t require re-inspections of buses that have been deemed unsafe, so it’s up to school districts to make sure repairs are done.

The state inspectors also don’t keep detailed records about what repairs are needed after the inspections of more than 7,500 school vehicles are done. And, there are no penalties for districts with repeat safety problems. Among the 67 districts that had at least one bus cited with the same serious category of mechanical or safety deficiencies in multiple, consecutive inspections during the past five-years, according to a Register review of records, is…Audubon, AHST, Carroll, Corning, Creston, Fremont-Mills, Guthrie Center, Lenox, Lewis Central, Logan-Magnolia, Panorama, West Central Valley, and Woodbine.

Iowa Sen. Amanda Ragan, D-Mason City, says the Register’s findings suggest that state bus inspection rules may need to be reviewed.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Two Lincoln,NE.,  residents have been arrested on bank robbery allegations.  Lincoln Police Capt. Jason Stille says 51-year-old Cameron Mitchell was picked up Friday after he was spotted at motel on the west side of Lincoln.  Stille says Mitchell is suspected of robbing U.S. Bank and Union Bank branches in Lincoln, as well as other robberies in Omaha and one on Friday in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Forty-five-year-old Ruth Cecetka also was arrested Friday. Cecetka is suspected of aiding Mitchell in the robberies.  Both people remain in custody.

Members of the Exira and Elk Horn-Kimballton Boards of Education will hold a joint meeting tonight at the High School in Elk Horn. During the 7-p.m. session in the Family and Consumer Science Room, the Board will discuss their goals for 2012-2013, Sports facilities and distribution of games, Activity Account balances and location, and Reorganization.

The reorganization portion of the discussion includes AEA informational meetings, District community meetings, and Whole Grade Sharing versus Reorganization. Along those same lines, the boards of education will discuss the timeline for reorganization, including petitions and voting.

Their next, regular, joint session is slated for 7-p.m. November 27th in Exira.

The Audubon City Council will hold a series of public hearings tonight on resolutions pertaining to the  authorization of a combined $1.9 million loan agreement. The funds will be used for several projects, including pool repairs, the airport runway, water plant and tower repairs, and refunding of the Streetscape project.

The Council will also hear from Lucas Billesbach, a representative with the JEO Consulting group, who will speak with regard to the water tower repair and improvement project. Afterward, the Council will act on authorizing the Mayor to sign an engineering agreement with JEO for the project. They’ll also hold a vote on the second reading of a No Parking ordinance, for a portion of the 700 block of North Division Street in Audubon.

The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Audubon City Hall.